Welcome to the Southern Maryland 2008 Christmas Guide! This is a living, breathing document. We recommend that you check back regularly to see what's new. If you have suggestions for additions, or exisiting information about you or your events needs to be changed, please contact us.

Christmas is the season for giving. Despite all of the visible wealth
in southern Maryland, there are also thousands of families—with and without
children—and senior citizens who are low-income or poverty level. Please
consider giving your time or money to one or more of the following worthy
programs—not just during the holiday season, but all year long.

Mike's Christmas Food Fund has become a Christmas tradition in St. Mary's
County. Every year Mike of Mike's Bikes on Great Mills Road and his
volunteers raise money to purchase a Christmas dinner for over 1,000 local
families. Donations are needed to help purchase food and volunteers are
needed to make deliveries. $20 will feed one one family. Mike said
that they are also welcoming toy donations this year. If you want to know
more about the program,
here's a story by County Times reporter Adam Ross.

Volunteers are needed to help make deliveries of food and toys December 19 - 22
(Tue-Fri) starting at 4 p.m. Volunteers can just show up at the Zion
United Methodist Church, 21291 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park. It is
suggested that you have a good local map of the area. The St. Mary's
County map book by ADC that is available in many local retailers is an excellent
resource.

Toys for Tots

Drop off a new unwrapped toy at the Metrocast office in Hollywood by December
17th. As a thank you for your generosity, show the cashier your toy
and receive a coupon for a free Video OnDemand movie !

43920 Airport View Drive, Hollywood MD 20636

Christmas Connection, Charles County

The Christmas Connection is a consortium of six agencies that has been serving Charles County's
neediest citizens for 17 years.
Each year they provide Christmas dinner, gifts, clothing, and books to thousands
of low-income to poverty level residents. This year they expect to help
over 3,000 children, 200 senior citizens, and 200 other needy childless adults.

They need financial donations, toy donations, and volunteers to help distribute
the services. Volunteers are needed to work at the National Guard Armory
in La Plata from Dec. 12 - 19.

Non-Perishable Food Drive at the Indoor Community Pools at Lackey and North
Point High Schools

Join the Charles County Department of Community Services for our Non-Perishable
Food Drive December 1-17. Receive $1 off your daily admission to the Indoor
Community Pools at Lackey & North Point High Schools with your donation of a
non-perishable food item. Discount good for one item per person, per visit. Call
for details - Lackey: 301-743-2470 or 301-753-6003, North Point: 301-934-7475.

Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry

Since 1997, more than 282 tons of deer meat have been donated by hunters and
farmers, resulting in over 2.2 million meals being served to needy people.
Learn how to donate
your deer to the program and make a family’s holiday a little bit brighter.

The Salvation Army is one of the best stewards of financial donations in the
charitable world. The local service units provide emergency shelter, food,
and clothing. Please note that each county has a service unit that is
attached to a host organization.

Financial donations are needed (Please make checks out to The Salvation Army). Volunteers are also needed to be bell
ringers during the holiday season.